Two children were killed and others injured after a Nissan Rogue lost control and struck a stopped Toyota RAV4 on northbound I-5 in Lebec, California, just before 3:00 p.m. on Dec. 25. Three minors were ejected from the Nissan; two were pronounced dead at the scene. The Nissan's driver, Jorge Preciado, was arrested on suspicion of felony child endangerment and booked in Santa Clarita. Officials are investigating the cause amid recent heavy rain and hazardous driving warnings in Southern California.
Two Children Killed in Christmas-Day Crash on I-5 in Lebec; Driver Arrested on Child Endangerment Charges
Eric Thayer/Bloomberg via GettyInterstate 5 photographed in August 2022.
Two children were killed and multiple people were injured after a multi-vehicle collision on northbound Interstate 5 in Lebec, California, on Christmas Day. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) said the crash occurred just before 3:00 p.m. on Dec. 25 south of Vista Del Lago Road.
Crash Details
CHP reports a gold Toyota RAV4 had stopped in the center median while the driver waited with a family member. A blue Nissan Rogue, traveling northbound and carrying two adults and six minors, lost control and struck the rear side of the Toyota. Three minors were ejected from the Nissan during the impact.
First responders performed lifesaving measures at the scene, but two of the ejected children were pronounced dead there. Authorities did not release the victims' ages or identities.
Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times via GettyFlooding on the I-5 in Sun Valley, Calif., on Dec. 24, 2025.
Arrest And Investigation
The driver of the Nissan, identified by CHP as Jorge Preciado, was arrested on suspicion of felony child endangerment and was later booked at the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Station in Santa Clarita. Officials said the investigation is ongoing to determine why the Nissan lost control.
“Today’s loss of two young lives is heartbreaking,” CHP Captain Purvis said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with the families of those involved in this tragedy. This is an important reminder that child safety seats are of utmost importance in providing safety on the roadway.”
Weather And Regional Context
Southern California experienced severe weather in the days leading up to Christmas, with some areas of Los Angeles County reporting heavy rain. Local and state officials issued warnings about hazardous driving conditions and flash flooding in affected areas. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass declared a local emergency, and California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a state of emergency for L.A. County and other Southern California counties amid concerns about flooding and landslides.
News reports noted multiple weather-related deaths across the state in the same period. Authorities emphasize that the crash remains under investigation and urged motorists to use appropriate restraints and drive cautiously in adverse conditions.
